Thanongsak Simsri vs Mark Vicelles: IBF Light Flyweight Title Fight Preview

Thanongsak Simsri and Mark Vicelles headline Saturday’s card in Fuji, Japan, with the IBF world light flyweight title at stake. There is another interesting contest just beneath it: Shunpei Ohata faces the more experienced Pete Apolinar. The card also has six other distinct bouts, including two between debutants.

Main Event: Thanongsak Simsri vs Mark Vicelles

Thanongsak Simsri (40-1-0) puts his IBF world light flyweight title on the line against Mark Vicelles (21-2-1) over 12 rounds. Simsri has spoken about wanting more belts, but Vicelles gets the first say in whether those plans go anywhere. The challenger’s record gives him plenty of experience to bring into this one, even if Simsri arrives with the stronger run of results on paper.

Co-Feature: Shunpei Ohata vs Pete Apolinar

At super featherweight, Shunpei Ohata (8-1-0) meets Pete Apolinar (20-7-1). Ohata has made a brisk start to his professional career, while Apolinar has been through far more fights. That experience gap is the hook here: Ohata has a chance to take a step forward, and Apolinar has a chance to make those extra rounds count.

Undercard

Ren Harada (1-0-0) is back for his second professional fight against Shan Wu (8-7-0) at super flyweight. It is quite a jump in experience for a boxer with one bout on his record.

Featherweights Chihiro Iwashita (10-1-1) and Rusen Zheng (7-7-0) also meet on the card.

At super flyweight, Shoki Nakamura (3-2-0) faces Wachirawit Sanpakorn (7-13-1).

Yuki Higashi makes his professional debut against Kento Shinoda (1-4-0) in a four-round super featherweight bout.

There is a second first outing at super lightweight, where Sky Tampol and Isami Ozaki both make their professional debuts over four rounds.

Bantamweights Tomohiro Tsuruta (1-2-0) and Yusuke Nawa (2-6-0) complete the listed card.

The title fight gives the show its headline, but Ohata–Apolinar and Harada’s early test against Wu are worth keeping an eye on too.